Fall Grooming: Tips to cope with fall shedding

by | General Pet Care |

During this fall season, you may notice some extra shedding from your pet! The key to making this process as seamless as possible is to groom your pet to get rid of the dead hair.

Dave Wilson, senior director of Shelter Health and Wellness for the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society, and retired vet, says removing dead hair is important so air can circulate under the hair to the skin. Wild dogs and wolves were in a habit of pulling off their dead hair by running through fields and woods, but this isn’t something our domesticated pets do.

Wilson explains that dogs shed their coats twice a year, in the spring and fall. In the spring, they shed their undercoat because they don’t need the insulation anymore. At the end of summer, the outer coat is beat up, so it’s time to re-generate it.

Here are some tips to get you through this season of fall shedding!

Tip #1: Know your dog
  • The amount of shedding can depend on your dog’s breed. For example, Huskies are known for “blowing their coat” in the fall.
  • Generally, most dogs shed twice a year, in the spring and in the fall.
Tip #2: Do some extra seasonal grooming
  • The key thing here is to remove the dead hair from your pet. There are different tools you can find to help painlessly break up their matted hair and get rid of any dead hair.
  • Consult your veterinarian if you have any questions regarding the best way to approach this with your dog.
Tip #3: Prevent suffocation
  • Suffocation of the skin can lead to more dandruff and grease. This can lead to painful and uncomfortable matts. If your dog starts chewing the matts, they can also become moist, infected and inflamed.
Tip #4: No time to groom?
  • If you feel like you do not have the time to groom or you feel uncomfortable with it, you can always hire a professional groomer. Make sure to find out what policies your groomer has in place for COVID-19 before arriving for your appointment.

If you have any concerns, do not be afraid to speak to your veterinarian for advice.

For more pet tips visit shelterhealthpro.com or the Ontario SPCA blog.